Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. For more than a decade Emory has been named one of the country's top 25 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, a comprehensive metropolitan health care system.

Emory researchers study the effects of Zen Meditation on the brain

25 February 2007 - Emory University Zen meditation is an ancient spiritual practice that promotes awareness and presence through the undivided engagement of mind and body. For thousands of years, many religious traditions have made meditation a common practice. Now, researchers at Emory University are looking at the effects of Zen meditation and how the brain functions during meditative states.

Yerkes researchers first to discover combination of drug therapies reduces cocaine use

25 February 2007 - Emory University Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University are the first to demonstrate a combination of drug therapies targeting the region of the brain that controls drug abuse and addiction significantly reduces cocaine use in nonhuman primates. These findings, which appear in the June issue of the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, have implications for developing treatments for cocaine addiction in humans.

Imaging studies show brain responds to rewards earned The Old-Fashioned Way

25 February 2007 - Emory University Human beings are more aroused by rewards they actively earn than by rewards they acquire passively, according to brain imaging research by scientists at Emory University School of Medicine. Results of the study, led by first author Caroline F. Zink and principal investigator Gregory S. Berns, MD, PhD, of Emory's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, are published in the journal Neuron.

Emory Scientists use protein Fingerprints to identify nervous system diseases

25 February 2007 - Emory University Scientists from Emory University School of Medicine have used mass spectrometry to identify specific protein fingerprints in human cerebrospinal fluid that differentiate cancers, both primary and metastatic, and non-cancerous diseases of the central nervous system. This finding offers promise of a more rapid, less invasive, and more accurate method of diagnosis of CNS diseases, especially the difficult-to-diagnose CNS cancers, and a better way to monitor disease progression and/or response to therapy.

Primate research combines with eye-tracking technology to detect cognitive impairment

24 February 2007 - Emory University Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University have expanded a nonhuman primate-based study to human patients with the intention of identifying human patients with mild cognitive impairment who will progress to the more devastating Alzheimer's disease. MCI is a subtle memory impairment without dementia. The goal of such identification is to develop early interventional therapy to stop or slow the progression of MCI to AD.

Researchers find that gastric bypass reduces hunger hormone

24 February 2007 - Emory University Appetite enhancing hormones called ghrelin are significantly reduced in severely obese patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery, according to Emory researchers. The decrease in ghrelin may explain the loss of hunger sensations and rapid weight loss in these patients.

Emory pioneers robotic system for precision radiation treatments

24 February 2007 - Emory University Emory University School of Medicine's Department of Radiation Oncology has become the first health care facility in the U.S. to deliver new ultra-precise radiotherapy treatments using a fully robotic on-board imaging system for tracking tumor locations and positioning patients. Emory clinicians report that they have treated seven patients with image-guided radiation therapy using a newly developed On-Board Imager and Clinac linear accelerator from Varian Medical Systems.

Synthetic hormone used in contraceptives & HRT produces negative effects In monkey studies

24 February 2007 - Emory University Medroxyprogesterone acetate, a synthetic form of the naturally occurring steroid hormone progesterone widely used in contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, increases aggression and anxiety and reduces sexual activity in female monkeys, according to a study published in the June edition of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Researchers test magnetic stimulation as treatment for major depression

23 February 2007 - Emory University Are brief but intense magnetic pulses delivered to the brain more effective than placebo in treating patients who suffer from depression? A new research study at Emory University and 15 other sites across the U.S. will test the effects of a non-drug therapy called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS or simply TMS), to determine the effectiveness of this investigational treatment in improving mood.

Researchers test deep-brain stimulation to reduce epileptic seizures

23 February 2007 - Emory University In the first U.S. clinical trial of its kind, deep-brain stimulation therapy, a treatment that has proven effective for other neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, is being tested on patients with epilepsy to determine if it can help reduce the frequency of seizures.

Emory Scientists target tumors with nanoparticle Quantum Dots

23 February 2007 - Emory University Emory University scientists have for the first time used a new class of luminescent 'quantum dot' nanoparticles in living animals to simultaneously target and image cancerous tumors. The quantum dots were encapsulated in a highly protective polymer coating and attached to a monoclonal antibody that guided them to prostate tumor sites in living mice, where they were visible using a simple mercury lamp.

Research clarifies role of LR11 receptor in Alzheimer's Disease

23 February 2007 - Emory University Emory University scientists are using a combination of transgenic mouse models and viral vectors to clarify the role of a brain molecule called LR11 in Alzheimer's disease. LR11 is a receptor for apolipoprotein E, which is involved in cholesterol metabolism and has previously been linked to AD. Early studies suggest that LR11 regulates levels of beta amyloid, which is the primary protein comprising the senile plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

Tuberculosis drug combined with virtual reality therapy is effective in treating fear

22 February 2007 - Emory University A tuberculosis drug called D-cycloserine, used in concert with psychotherapy, is an effective treatment for some anxiety-related disorders, according to research by scientists at Emory University School of Medicine and the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience. The study was led by Michael Davis, PhD, Kerry Ressler, MD, PhD, and Barbara Rothbaum, PhD, of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and is reported in the November issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Bladder Pacemaker to improve quality of life for incontinence patients

22 February 2007 - Emory University Apprehension about long road trips and four restroom visits during the night had become the norm for Juanita Bowman. Compared to a person with a normal bladder who uses the restroom four to seven times per day, a cup of water could send her to the restroom up to three times in an hour and a half. But after an alternative procedure for overactive bladder that Bowman, age 69, received at Emory Hospitals, her leaking episodes have been completely eliminated.

Emory offers new targeted radiation treatment for brain tumors with first machine of its kind

22 February 2007 - Emory University Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute is the first site in the world to offer a new, extremely precise, image-guided radiation treatment system for brain tumors, offering patients an alternative to surgical removal of tumors. The Trilogy system, created by Varian Medical Systems, delivers higher doses of targeted radiation to smaller areas with more precision over a shorter period of time. It allows doctors to customize the treatment plan for each patient.

New class of drugs being tested as alternative for AIDS patients with resistant virus

22 February 2007 - Emory University A new class of AIDS drugs that inhibit the HIV virus from entering and infecting cells may be effective in AIDS patients infected with resistant forms of virus that do not respond to commonly used multi-drug combinations of antiretroviral therapy.

Celebrex promotes anti-cancer activity in cells

21 February 2007 - Emory University Celebrex, a popular pain-reliever, may also serve as an effective anti-cancer drug. Shi-Yong Sun, PhD, assistant professor at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute, has published a paper in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that outlines how Celebrex can induce cell-death, in lung cancer cells. The paper is published in the December 1 issue of JNCI.

Patients benefit from the strongest hospital-based MRI in Georgia at Emory

21 February 2007 - Emory University Patients at Emory University Hospital have access to the strongest MRI available in Georgia, which means doctors have a clearer image for increased diagnostic accuracy.

New study shows statins offer significant benefits for heart failure patients

21 February 2007 - Emory University Cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins have become a mainstay in the fight against coronary artery disease and are routinely prescribed for people at risk for cardiovascular disease because of hypercholesterolemia. Emory research presented here today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions indicates statins can help heart failure patients in additional ways, whether or not their condition was caused by CAD.

Emory researchers find Cilostazol may prevent restenosis in Diabetics after stenting

21 February 2007 - Emory University During angioplasty, the most commonly used procedure in the U.S. to treat potentially life-threatening coronary blockages, a balloon- tipped catheter pushes aside atherosclerotic plaques in arteries. Once the vessel has been widened and adequate blood flow is returned, stents (tiny mesh wire tubes) are frequently used to keep arteries open. However, renarrowing has proved to be a frequent problem following angioplasty, especially in diabetic patients.

Emory Interventional Radiologists use laser treatment to zap Varicose Veins

20 February 2007 - Emory University Pain and discomfort are just two of the common complaints of having varicose veins. Many describe their unattractive legs as the biggest downside of the condition. Now a new laser procedure at Emory University is removing those painful and ugly veins without surgery.

Emory Eye Center offers new vision correction procedure for Severe Myopia

20 February 2007 - Emory University For those people who have dealt with severe degrees of myopia yet have not been good candidates for surgeries such as LASIK, a new implant may provide them new hope, and new vision.

Mutations in Mitochondrial DNA play significant role in Prostate Cancer

20 February 2007 - Emory University Mutations in mitochondrial DNA play an important role in the development of prostate cancer, according to research by scientists at Emory University School of Medicine and the University of California, Irvine. The findings are published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers say virtual reality training is wave of the future for Cardiovascular Medicine

20 February 2007 - Emory University Historically, physicians have learned new procedures by first practicing on animals, cadavers or mechanical models, eventually receiving 'on-the-job training' by operating on patients under the guidance of experienced teachers. However, in a commentary published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Emory Heart Center cardiologist Christopher Cates, MD, and Anthony Gallagher, PhD, Experimental Psychologist for the Division of Cardiology at Emory University Hospital, say this paradigm needs to change, especially in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

Emory researchers find three anti-platelet drugs used in combination are safe

19 February 2007 - Emory University Three drugs, each of which works in a different way, are used in anti-platelet therapy to help prevent restenosis (the reclogging of blood vessels after they have been cleared with percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI) or thrombosis (obstruction of an artery or vein by a blood clot). The use of these platelet inhibitory drugs, cilostazol, clopidogrel and aspirin, has resulted in a significant reduction of thrombotic complications in the primary and secondary prevention of heart attacks. But is it safe to use these medications together, or in combination do they increase the risk of bleeding? And will patients comply with taking three pills?

Study says rare allergic reactions to drug-eluting stents may raise risk for heart attack

19 February 2007 - Emory University Stents, tiny wire mesh tubes, are routinely used to prop arteries open after angioplasty clears them of potentially heart attack causing plaque. In the past, stented arteries often eventually closed up again with fatty deposits, a process called restenosis. However, since their FDA approval, stents coated with sirolimus (a pharmaceutical agent that prevents excess tissue growth) have been shown to greatly reduce restenosis. But some people suffer from rare, allergic-type reactions to the sirolimus-eluting stents.

Deep brain stimulation may be an effective treatment for treatment-resistant depression

19 February 2007 - Emory University A study published in Neuron reports evidence that Deep Brain Stimulation could have clinical benefits for individuals suffering from severe depression who have failed other treatments. The University of Toronto study, led by Helen S. Mayberg, MD, now a professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Neurology at Emory University School of Medicine, opens a promising line of research for depressed patients who do not respond to other therapies.

Transplant drug effectively preserves kidneys while avoiding toxic side effects

19 February 2007 - Emory University Physician-researchers at Emory University in Atlanta have shown an investigational medication, known as LEA29Y (belatacept), is effective in preserving transplanted kidney function while at the same time avoiding the toxic side effects that are common in the currently used long-term, immunosuppressive transplant medications.

Heart failure drug prolongs life and is cost-effective

19 February 2007 - Emory University Drug therapy, even when safe and effective for serious health problems, can have a downside, a hefty price tag. But there's good news for people suffering from left ventricular systolic dysfunction and congestive heart failure following a heart attack. A study published today in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, concludes the drug eplerenone can not only help many of these people live longer, it is also remarkably cost effective, according to lead author William S. Weintraub, MD, of the Emory Heart Center.

Sex hormone metabolite reduces stress, anxiety in female rats

19 February 2007 - Emory University A steroid hormone released during the metabolism of progesterone, the female sex hormone, reduces the brain's response to stress, according to research in rats by scientists at Emory University School of Medicine, the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Atlanta's Center for Behavioral Neuroscience. The scientists found evidence that the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone reduces the brain's response to corticotropin-releasing factor, a peptide hormone that plays an important role in the stress response in animals.

New drug available for treatment of Wet Macular Degeneration Disease

19 February 2007 - Emory University A new drug for treatment of the wet form of age-related macular degeneration, known as AMD, has been approved by the FDA recently. AMD is a serious disease of the retina that can lead to severe vision loss and blindness.

Genetic amplification test detects HIV more effectively than standard tests

18 February 2007 - Emory University Adding a new HIV screening method, called nucleic acid amplification testing, to standard HIV testing, researchers were able to uncover six percent more cases of HIV infection in urban STD and drug treatment clinics and HIV testing sites in Atlanta than with standard HIV antibody tests alone. The research was presented at the 12th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston on February 25 by Frances Priddy, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine.

Study finds Cilostazol lowers restenosis rate in kidney disease patients after angioplasty

18 February 2007 - Emory University According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 20 million Americans (one in nine adults) have chronic kidney disease. Many of these people also have heart disease and undergo percutaneous coronary intervention, in which angioplasty and stenting are employed to widen narrowed blood vessels. CKD places these patients at increased risk for restenosis, the renarrowing of blood vessels after PCI.

Emory study finds HIV is not an independent risk factor for severe heart disease

18 February 2007 - Emory University Infection with human immunodeficiency virus is no longer an automatic death sentence, thanks to the use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy. However, several studies questions have suggested that HIV infection poses a serious threat to the heart , specifically, that HIV positivity leads to an increased risk for the development of angiographically severe coronary artery disease.

Study shows heart patients' quality of life dependent on degree of depression

18 February 2007 - Emory University According to the National Institutes for Mental Health, research over the past two decades has shown that people with heart disease are more likely to suffer from depression than otherwise healthy people. In addition, people with depression are at greater risk for developing heart disease.

Study finds drug eluting stents as effective as vascular brachytherapy

18 February 2007 - Emory University After angioplasty is performed to widen clogged arteries, surgeons frequently use tiny wire-mesh tubes called stents to keep blood vessels open. But despite stenting, scar tissue can form to create new blockages, a process called in-stent restenosis. At present, vascular brachytherapy (catheter-based delivery of intracoronary radiation) is the only therapeutic modality proven to effectively reduce in-stent restenosis.

National study recommends Aspirin over common anti-clotting drug to prevent stroke

17 February 2007 - Emory University Patients at risk of developing a stroke caused by narrowed brain arteries should take aspirin rather than a well-known anti-clotting medication to prevent a stroke from occurring, according to the results of a major national study led by researchers in the Emory University Schools of Medicine and Public Health and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Study shows Bivalirudin lowers risk of blood transfusion in coronary procedures

17 February 2007 - Emory University Research presented this week at the Cardiovascular Revascularization Therapies 2005 conference in Washington, DC concludes that for patients receiving a coronary stent or angioplasty procedure, the risk of needing a blood transfusion is 32 percent lower with the use of the antithrombotic drug bivalirudin, when compared to the combination of heparin and a glycoprotetin inhibitor.

Emory scientists find new prostate cancer suppressor gene

17 February 2007 - Emory University A gene named ATBF1 may contribute to the development of prostate cancer through acquired mutations and/or loss of expression, according to research at Emory University School of Medicine and its Winship Cancer Institute. The findings were published in the online edition of Nature Genetics. The Emory research team was led by Jin-Tang Dong, PhD, associate professor in the Winship Cancer Institute. Lead author was postdoctoral fellow Xiaodong Sun, PhD.

Invasive pneumonia propped following introduction of childhood vaccine

17 February 2007 - Emory University The problem of increasing antibiotic resistance in cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major cause of pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis, was dramatically reversed following the licensing and use of a new conjugate vaccine for young children in February 2000, according to research conducted at Emory University, the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Georgia Division of Public Health.

Inherited variations in Mitochondrial DNA linked to renal and prostate cancer

16 February 2007 - Emory University More than 20 million men in the United States with a particular signature set of inherited characteristics and mutations in mitochondrial DNA are at significantly increased risk for developing renal and prostate cancers, according to research at Emory University.

National study shows older children can benefit from treatments for common eye disorder

16 February 2007 - Emory University Surprising results from a nationwide clinical trial conducted at Emory and 48 other eye centers show that many children aged seven through 17 with amblyopia (lazy eye) may benefit from treatments that are more commonly used on younger children.

Breast cancer drug Tamoxifen increases anxiety behaviors in female nonhuman primates

16 February 2007 - Emory University Tamoxifen, the most widely prescribed drug for treating and preventing breast cancer in women, increases anxiety behaviors in female rhesus macaques, according to a study conducted at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University by Yerkes, Emory and Atlanta-based Center for Behavioral Neuroscience researchers.

Emory participates in study using wireless sensor implants to monitor aneurysm leaks

16 February 2007 - Emory University James Watson was a walking time bomb and didn't know it. During a CT scan performed for abdominal pain, Emory doctors discovered an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Now Watson has an implanted wireless microchip sensor designed to detect endoleaks with the potential to cause a fatal rupture.

New England journal reports breakthrough in Myeloma treatment

15 February 2007 - Emory University A major breakthrough in multiple myeloma treatment is reported in this week's New England Journal of Medicine. Sagar Lonial, MD, assistant professor of hematology and oncology at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute, is one of the authors of the paper, 'Bortezomib or High Dose Dexamethasone for Relapsed Multiple Myeloma.'

Social behavior may be shaped by differences in the length of seemingly non-functional DNA

15 February 2007 - Emory University Why are some people shy while others are outgoing? A study in the current issue of Science demonstrates for the first time that social behavior may be shaped by differences in the length of seemingly non-functional DNA, sometimes referred to as junk DNA. The finding by researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University and the Atlanta-based Center for Behavioral Neuroscience has implications for understanding human social behavior and disorders, such as autism.

Elevated Potassium can produce pseudo heart attack

15 February 2007 - Emory University When a man appeared in the Emory Hospital Emergency Department with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain that had persisted for eight hours, an electrocardiogram was performed. The test revealed an elevated ST-segment, the tell-tale sign of a major heart attack (also called a myocardial infarction, or MI).

New device developed by Georgia Tech and Emory checks for concussions on the sidelines

15 February 2007 - Emory University A player just took a hard knock to the head and is lying on the field. A coach rushes to his side, but the player sits up and seems fine. He knows who the president is and how many fingers the coach is holding up. But is he ready to get back in the game?

Anti-cancer drug, Gleevec, may be effective against Smallpox

14 February 2007 - Emory University The hallmark anti-cancer drug Gleevec may be effective in controlling smallpox infections or treating the complications caused by smallpox vaccinations, according to research at Emory University. Gleevec has been highly successful in treating chronic myelogenous leukemia in humans and has few adverse side effects.

Emory study shows obesity causing dramatic increase in insurance cost

14 February 2007 - Emory University The obesity epidemic has caused a tenfold increase in the nation's private health insurance bill for conditions related to being overweight, according to a self-funded study by researchers with the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health published today in the online version of the journal Health Affairs. According to the study the cost of treating conditions linked to obesity increased from $3.6 billion to $36.5 billion between 1987 and 2002. The study concludes that the best way to lower healthcare spending is to target the rise in population risk factors, especially obesity.

New prosthesis is excellent option for severe shoulder problems

14 February 2007 - Emory University A new shoulder prosthesis is providing relief to patients who suffer from pain and limited function of their shoulder from arthritis, a rotator cuff injury or a previous shoulder replacement. Called a reverse shoulder prosthesis or a 'reverse ball and socket,' the device works by reversing the usual positions of the ball and socket in the shoulder. Emory University is one of the few places in the Southeast performing this procedure, which can allow many patients to return to normal daily activities without the pain.

New clinical tool to help war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder

14 February 2007 - Emory University A new clinical tool for assessing post-traumatic stress disorder, developed by the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Emory University School of Medicine, could enable researchers to develop better treatments for war veterans suffering from the disabling anxiety disorder.

Cancer Genetics Program provides assessment and counseling for inherited risk

13 February 2007 - Emory University Because one out of every three Americans will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime, many people wonder if they have inherited a risk from one or more family members who are diagnosed with the disease. Patients with a family history of cancer can receive cancer risk assessment and counseling about options for testing and prevention from the comprehensive Cancer Genetics Program based in the Department of Human Genetics at Emory University School of Medicine.

New FDA-approved intraocular lens for cataract patients

13 February 2007 - Emory University Emory Eye Center is now offering a newly FDA-approved intraocular lens for cataract patients. The lens provides them with a new option for post-surgery vision correction, that of freedom from glasses. The lens provides near, intermediate, and far vision capabilities.

Researchers find secretive bisexual activity does not translate to HIV risk

13 February 2007 - Emory University Despite a great deal of popular attention in recent years, the issue of black men keeping their bisexual behavior secretive from their main female sex partners, or 'keeping it on-the-down-low,' does not translate to high-risk sex with male partners, nor an increased risk of HIV transmission, according to David J. Malebranche, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of General Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine and internist at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Nitric oxide in critically ill preterm infants with acute respiratory failure didn't show significant benefits

13 February 2007 - Emory University The use of inhaled nitric oxide in critically ill preterm infants smaller than 1500 g with acute respiratory failure didn't show significant benefits in reducing their mortality rates or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This finding contradicts the findings of a smaller study that suggested it may protect the respiratory and central nervous systems during a critical phase of neonatal development.

Organic diets lower children's dietary exposure to common agriculture pesticides

12 February 2007 - Emory University A study led by an Emory University researcher concludes that an organic diet given to children provides a 'dramatic and immediate protective effect' against exposures to two pesticides that are commonly used in U.S. agricultural production.

Experimental drug preserves transplanted kidneys, avoids toxic side effects

12 February 2007 - Emory University An international team of transplant physicians has shown that the investigational drug belatacept (LEA29Y) preserves transplanted kidney function as effectively as cyclosporine, the drug most commonly used to prevent the immune system from rejecting transplanted organs. At the same time, belatacept avoids many of the toxic side effects that adversely affect kidney function, blood pressure and cholesterol levels of patients undergoing long-term anti-rejection therapy with immunosuppressant drugs.

Race and Gender Disparities Persist in Heart Attack Care and Mortality

12 February 2007 - Emory University Despite a decade of initiatives to remedy health disparities in cardiovascular medicine, at least some aspects of the treatment of U.S. patients hospitalized for heart attacks continues to vary according to sex and race, according to a study by researchers at Emory University in collaboration with Yale University and other centers. The results, reported in this week's New England Journal of Medicine, found a consistent pattern of less intensive treatment offered to women and black heart-attack patients.

Scientists link genetic pathway to development of hearing

12 February 2007 - Emory University Scientists are one step closer to understanding the genetic pathway involved in the development of hearing. New research findings, published online this week in the journal Nature Genetics, detail how sensory hair cells in the ear, the cells largely responsible for hearing, develop unique shapes that enable the perception of sound.

New procedure shaves away plaque in patients with poor leg circulation

12 February 2007 - Emory University Tired, aching legs, cold feet and wounds or blisters on the feet that won't heal, these are all symptoms of a condition called peripheral vascular disease or PVD. The disease, similar to coronary artery disease, causes a build-up of plaque most commonly in the legs and feet, which leads to poor circulation in the lower extremities.

New procedure shaves away plaque in patients with poor leg circulation

12 February 2007 - Emory University Tired, aching legs, cold feet and wounds or blisters on the feet that won't heal, these are all symptoms of a condition called peripheral vascular disease or PVD. The disease, similar to coronary artery disease, causes a build-up of plaque most commonly in the legs and feet, which leads to poor circulation in the lower extremities.

New procedure shaves away plaque in patients with poor leg circulation

12 February 2007 - Emory University Tired, aching legs, cold feet and wounds or blisters on the feet that won't heal, these are all symptoms of a condition called peripheral vascular disease or PVD. The disease, similar to coronary artery disease, causes a build-up of plaque most commonly in the legs and feet, which leads to poor circulation in the lower extremities.

New procedure helps determine how much chemotherapy reaches brain tumors

11 February 2007 - Emory University Emory Winship Cancer Institute is one of only two cancer research facilities in the country to conduct a procedure to determine how much chemotherapy actually reaches certain kinds of brain tumors.

Immune responses explain different therapeutic effects in rheumatoid Arthritis

11 February 2007 - Emory University Using a humanized mouse model that mimics the effects of human rheumatoid arthritis, researchers have discovered that protein growth factors called cytokines in the immune system have both pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to RA that help explain why some patients respond to current therapy and others don't. By pinpointing the unique immune mechanisms involved in different forms of RA, the scientists hope to guide physicians toward more precise individualized diagnosis of RA patients and more effective therapies that target specific forms of the disease.

Scientists determine how tumor gene controls growth

11 February 2007 - Emory University Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine and their colleagues have discovered a genetic mechanism that controls cellular growth in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and believe it likely that a similar system may be at work in normal and cancerous human cells.

Psychiatrist studies treatment delay in the early course of Schizophrenia

11 February 2007 - Emory University Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness, and research shows that the longer patients and their families wait to seek treatment the more debilitating the disease can become. Emory researchers at Grady Memorial Hospital are now studying what causes individuals and families to delay treatment after the onset of symptoms of schizophrenia. The researchers hope their results will be used to better understand how treatment delays can be reduced by raising awareness of the disease, and thereby reducing societal stigma and other barriers to early treatment.

Emory Gynecologist says vaccine will help protect women against cervical cancer

11 February 2007 - Emory University The results of a major clinical trial involving 12,167 women shows Gardasil, a genetically-engineered vaccine by Merck & Co., was 100 percent effective in preventing persistent infection with the two major strains of the human papillomavirus that account for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases.

Emory study tests new rehabilitative treatment for chronic low back pain

11 February 2007 - Emory University Low back pain is one of the most common complaints of aches and pains in our society today, according to the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Almost every person will have at least one episode of low back pain at some time in his or her life, especially as one begins to age.

Study shows lifestyle changes have major health impact

10 February 2007 - Emory University New Year's resolutions to lose weight, stop smoking and exercise are made by countless people every January. Unfortunately, these goals seldom seem attainable and good intentions often fall by the wayside after a few weeks. Is there really a way to keep your resolutions and transform your body and your health?

Emory researchers use brain imaging to learn if Alzheimer's can be detected earlier

10 February 2007 - Emory University Researchers at Emory University have received a $330,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations to study the use of brain imaging to identify and treat Alzheimer's disease at an earlier stage. The multi-center research trial, called the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, will focus on brain imaging studies (MRI and PET scans) and biomarker tests (tests to detect diseases), together with measurements of memory, thinking, and daily functioning among three different groups of volunteers.

Geneticist ues rsequencing tchnology to sudy Autism Susceptibility Genes

10 February 2007 - Emory University The recent sequencing of a single human genome was the first step in speeding the discovery of genetic variations that contribute to disease in humans. Now a geneticist is using microarry-based 'resequencing', new technology he helped develop,to search for genes on targeted sections of the X chromosome that could be related to the development of autism.

Emory researchers use brain imaging to learn if Alzheimer's can be detected earlier

10 February 2007 - Emory University Researchers at Emory University have received a $330,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations to study the use of brain imaging to identify and treat Alzheimer's disease at an earlier stage. The multi-center research trial, called the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, will focus on brain imaging studies (MRI and PET scans) and biomarker tests (tests to detect diseases), together with measurements of memory, thinking, and daily functioning among three different groups of volunteers.

Geneticist ues rsequencing tchnology to sudy Autism Susceptibility Genes

10 February 2007 - Emory University The recent sequencing of a single human genome was the first step in speeding the discovery of genetic variations that contribute to disease in humans. Now a geneticist is using microarry-based 'resequencing', new technology he helped develop,to search for genes on targeted sections of the X chromosome that could be related to the development of autism.

Bone loss, Osteoporosis linked to Thymic Rebound

10 February 2007 - Emory University A team of researchers from Emory University School of Medicine has found that bone loss and osteoporosis, a condition affecting more than 44 million men and women in the United States, may be caused by a 'thymic rebound' resulting from estrogen deficiency and the increased production of the protein IL-7.

Ketogenic diet prevents seizures by enhancing brain energy production

10 February 2007 - Emory University Although the high-fat, calorie-restricted ketogenic diet has long been used to prevent childhood epileptic seizures that are unresponsive to drugs, physicians have not really understood exactly why the diet works. New studies by a research team at Emory University School of Medicine show that the diet alters genes involved in energy metabolism in the brain, which in turn helps stabilize the function of neurons exposed to the challenges of epileptic seizures. This knowledge could help scientists identify specific molecular or genetic targets and lead to more effective drug treatments for epilepsy and brain damage.

Emory Geneticists use novel screening to find incidence of Fragile X Syndrome

09 February 2007 - Emory University Genetic scientists at Emory University School of Medicine already maintain the world's most extensive research program on fragile X syndrome, the leading cause of inherited mental retardation. Up until now, however, they have had only a rough estimate of the incidence of fragile X in the population. Using a new grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and dried blood samples leftover from the Georgia Newborn Screening Program, the Emory scientists will try to determine the birth prevalence of fragile X in Georgia and therefore calculate the true incidence in the country.

DNA key to predicting prostate and renal cancer

09 February 2007 - Emory University In a study to be published in the February issue of 'The Journal of Urology,' researchers from Emory University School of Medicine have determined that inheritance of 'mitochondrial haplogroup U' is associated with increased risk of prostate and renal cancers.

Scientists to develop new strategies for vaccination that can better protect organ transplant recipients

09 February 2007 - Emory University Scientists at Emory University will use a $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop new strategies for vaccination that can better protect organ transplant recipients and other immune-suppressed patients from infectious disease threats.

Scientists identify simple, effective strategy for treating Chronic Viral Infections

09 February 2007 - Emory University Scientists have identified a simple but highly effective strategy for boosting the immune response to chronic viral infections in mice. By blocking a specific molecular pathway in the mouse immune system called PD-L1/PD-1, the scientists were able to enhance production of CD8 T cells, kill virus-infected cells, and decrease the viral load. The discovery may help overcome the challenging hurdle of immune T-cell 'exhaustion' in humans that allows chronic viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C viruses to persist and makes them so difficult to treat. The research was reported in the on-line edition of the journal Nature.

Growth factor stimulates stem-cell production in vascular disease patients

08 February 2007 - Emory University Using a growth factor to stimulate production of circulating endothelial progenitor cells increases the numbers of these vascular regenerative cells, improves mobility, and potentially could improve blood vessel function in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Scientists at Emory University presented results of a recent clinical trial with endothelial progenitor cells and PAD at the American College of Cardiology Meeting in Atlanta.

Spontaneous network activity Mmy be missing link in Nervous System Development

08 February 2007 - Emory University Cellular bursts of energy may play a larger role in healthy development than researchers ever imagined. Scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have discovered that when circuits within the spinal cords of embryos create short bursts of energy, called spontaneous network activity, it also aids the normal development of synaptic connections. Synapses, highly focused links between cells, create neural circuits that enable coordination within the nervous system and support physical movement and the effective maturation of organs, senses and muscles.

Women can safely take Lithium for Bipolar Disorder during pregnancy

08 February 2007 - Emory University Pregnant women can take lithium safely for control of bipolar disorder as delivery approaches during late pregnancy provided they follow a series of guidelines designed to minimize risk to the developing fetus, according to Emory University School of Medicine researchers writing in a recent issue of the 'American Journal of Psychiatry.'

Normal human cells contain a built-in recycling and waste disposal system called lysosomes

08 February 2007 - Emory University Normal human cells contain a built-in recycling and 'waste' disposal system called lysosomes, parts of the cell containing enzymes that break down unused molecules. A group of more than 40 inherited genetic disorders causes enzymes within the lysosomes to malfunction, which makes waste products accumulate in cells. This leads to progressive tissue and organ damage in children and adults ranging from mild to life threatening.

Low dose Vitamin A Derivative not effective in preventing 2nd head & neck tumors

07 February 2007 - Emory University Taking a vitamin A derivative called isotretinoin did not reduce the risk of second primary tumors or improve survival in patients with stage I or II head and neck squamous cell cancers, according to a study in Journal of the National Cancer Institute. In addition, current smokers had an increased risk of second primary cancers and death.

Hap1 protein links circulating insulin to brain circuits that regulate feeding behavior

07 February 2007 - Emory University Researchers have discovered how the protein Hap1, which is abundant in the brain's hypothalamus, serves as the link between circulating insulin in the blood and the neural circuitry that controls feeding behavior in mice. Illumination of the neural pathway used by hormones to regulate appetite and eating behavior could eventually provide new drug targets for treating eating disorders and obesity.

New technology provides low vision patients new options for vision assistance

07 February 2007 - Emory University Although getting older doesn't mean you lose your vision, many aging Americans are indeed dealing with some sort of vision disability. Some may develop what practitioners call 'low vision,' meaning vision that can't be corrected with regular glasses or contact lenses, medicine or surgery. Although this vision loss isn't common, those who do develop it do so as a result of eye diseases and conditions such as macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma and diabetes. A few develop vision loss after traumatic eye injuries or from birth defects.

Scientists discover unique binding method for essential cell protein ubiquitin

07 February 2007 - Emory University Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have uncovered new information about the molecular pathway used by ubiquitin, an essential protein that helps regulate the amounts and locations of other proteins within cells. Because ubiquitin plays a key role in cell survival, scientists have already begun to develop drugs to target parts of the ubiquitin pathway in treating diseases such as cancer.

Emory surgeons implant ventricular device as alternative to heart transplant

06 February 2007 - Emory University Surgeons at Emory University Hospital recently implanted Georgia's first ventricular assist device as a form of destination therapy (in place of a donor transplant) for individuals who are not eligible for--or unwilling to undergo, a heart transplant.

Scientists discover possible link between Oxidative Stress & Degenerative Disease

06 February 2007 - Emory University The irreversible neurological degeneration associated with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases may be the consequence of oxidative stress, the imbalance of antioxidants and pro-oxidants in cells. This imbalance results in an excess of reactive oxygen species, harmful oxygen-containing molecules that can cause damage to proteins. Scientists from the Emory University School of Medicine report that the protein DJ-1 is oxidatively damaged in non-hereditary (sporadic) Parkinson's disease.

Younger women appear to be at increased risk for depression after heart attack

06 February 2007 - Emory University Depression is common in patients with cardiovascular disease, including acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), according to background information in the article. Depressed heart attack patients are more likely to be hospitalized and die of heart problems and tend to have worse health and higher health care costs than heart attack patients who are not depressed. Identifying patients who are likely to be depressed after heart attack could help physicians screen and treat those at highest risk.

Emory researchers study racial differences in triple negative breast tumors

06 February 2007 - Emory University They're commonly referred to as 'triple negatives', breast cancers that are characterized by three biological components that make the disease more difficult to treat. Oncologists base treatment decisions on the presence of three receptors known to fuel most breast cancers, estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 or HER2. The most effective agents for breast cancer, such as tamoxifen and trastuzumab (Herceptin), work by targeting these receptors. Women with triple negative tumors lack all three.

Emory University researchers find a connection in laboratory mice between developmental exposure to the pesticide dieldrin

05 February 2007 - Emory University A team of Emory University researchers has found a connection in laboratory mice between developmental exposure to the pesticide dieldrin (now banned from use) during gestation and lactation and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The findings are significant because most studies aimed at determining the disease process in PD have been focused on events occurring during adulthood, not during developmental stages. The study results are published online today in The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal (http://www.fasebj.org/papbyrecent.dtl).

Research suggests cause of Neurodegeneration in Huntington's Disease

05 February 2007 - Emory University The severe neurodegeneration associated with Huntington's disease may result from molecular mutations that block the transport of nutrients within cells. Findings from the Emory University School of Medicine indicate that the mutant huntingtin protein limits the efforts of the huntingtin-associated protein-1 to provide nutrients to growing neurons, or neurites. Without those nutrients, neurites fail to develop and mature neurons degenerate.

New ultrasound technology at Emory reduces scan times, provides clearer images

05 February 2007 - Emory University The new VIP imaging, developed by GE Healthcare, enables sonographers to sweep across a target area of a patient's anatomy and collect a large amount of imaging information in a very short period of time. After image acquisition, the radiologist can manipulate this image data using advanced post-processing tools to produce three-dimensional images even long after the patient has left.

Neurobiology of dread gives Scientists clues about decision making

05 February 2007 - Emory University In order to better understand how people make decisions when the outcomes are known to be unpleasant, a team of Emory neuroscientists led by Gregory Berns, MD, PhD, used functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine the areas of the brain that are activated when someone experiences dread. The study was part of a research program in the growing field of neuroeconomics, an area in which neuroscience methods are being applied to economic questions.

Raloxifene has no effect on women's heart attacks but reduces breast cancer risk

04 February 2007 - Emory University The drug raloxifene, currently marketed in the United States as Evista for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, had no significant effect on coronary events in a placebo-controlled clinical trial of more than 10,000 women from 26 countries who had known coronary heart disease or were at high risk for heart attack. Raloxifene did, however, reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer and clinical vertebral fractures in the trial group, which was followed for an average of 5.6 years.

Researchers at Emory investigate new treatment for Iraq War Veterans with PTSD

04 February 2007 - Emory University Emory University researchers will embark on a study they hope will enhance the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and help soldiers who are affected get better faster. The risk for PTSD among Iraq War veterans is estimated to be 18 percent, according to a 2004 study that examined the mental health impact of the war. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD among American Vietnam war veterans is 30.9 percent for men and 26.9 percent for women. PTSD is a serious condition that can become a chronic problem, with devastating life-altering effects on soldiers and their families.

Researchers have found a connection in laboratory mice between developmental exposure to the pesticide dieldrin

04 February 2007 - Emory University A team of Emory University researchers has found a connection in laboratory mice between developmental exposure to the pesticide dieldrin (now banned from use) during gestation and lactation and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The findings are significant because most studies aimed at determining the disease process in PD have been focused on events occurring during adulthood, not during developmental stages. The study results are published online today in The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal (http://www.fasebj.org/papbyrecent.dtl).

Researchers have found a connection in laboratory mice between developmental exposure to the pesticide dieldrin

04 February 2007 - Emory University A team of Emory University researchers has found a connection in laboratory mice between developmental exposure to the pesticide dieldrin (now banned from use) during gestation and lactation and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The findings are significant because most studies aimed at determining the disease process in PD have been focused on events occurring during adulthood, not during developmental stages. The study results are published online today in The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal (http://www.fasebj.org/papbyrecent.dtl).

Emory University radiation oncologists performed the first frameless radiosurgery brain tumor treatment in Georgia

03 February 2007 - Emory University Emory University radiation oncologists recently performed the first frameless radiosurgery brain tumor treatment in Georgia. This state-of-the-art treatment enables physicians to accurately position and monitor patients during radiation treatment without using a standard rigid head frame. Ian R. Crocker, MD, FACR, professor of radiation oncology at Emory University School of Medicine, and his staff performed the procedure.

Emory Scientists develop new map of genetic variation in human genome

03 February 2007 - Emory University Emory University scientists have identified and created a map of more than 400,000 insertions and deletions in the human genome that signal a little-explored type of genetic difference among individuals. INDELS are an alternative form of natural genetic variation that differs from the much-studied single nucleotide polymorphisms. Both types of variation are likely to have a major impact on humans, including their health and susceptibility to disease.

Minimally invasive technology for Chronic Sinusitis gives Emory Doctors new options

03 February 2007 - Emory University Anyone who suffers from chronic sinusitis knows the pain can be relentless and debilitating. John DelGaudio, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at Emory University School of Medicine, is using a procedure called 'balloon sinuplasty' to treat patients with a particular form of sinusitis, opening another door to relieve the pain with a minimally invasive technique.

Individuals with major depression have an exaggerated inflammatory response to psychological stress

02 February 2007 - Emory University Individuals with major depression have an exaggerated inflammatory response to psychological stress compared to those who do not suffer from depression, according to a study by researchers at Emory University School of Medicine. Because an overactive inflammatory response may contribute to a number of medical disorders as well as to depression, the findings suggest that increased inflammatory responses to stress in depressed patients may be a link between depression and other diseases, including heart disease, as well as contributing to depression itself.

Emory University Hospital is the first hospital in Georgia to offer a non-surgical device

02 February 2007 - Emory University The TandemHeart PTVA System is designed to help patients survive life-saving, high-risk procedures and other cardiac interventions without undergoing major surgery. The device restores blood circulation through a cardiac catheterization procedure in as little as 30 minutes. The resulting increase in blood flow--up to five liters per minute--helps to save vital organs and gives damaged hearts a chance to heal when patients experience acute, life-threatening heart conditions.

Molecular switch may turn off immune cells that target HIV

02 February 2007 - Emory University One of the primary mysteries of the AIDS epidemic, why the immune system is unable to control HIV infection, may have been solved by an international research collaborative. In an upcoming issue of Nature, the researchers report how a molecular pathway involved in the immune cell 'exhaustion' that characterizes several other chronic viral infections plays a similar role in HIV infection. They also found that blocking the pathway restores some function to HIV-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells.

Researchers have found that giving progesterone to trauma victims shortly following brain injury may reduce the risk of death

01 February 2007 - Emory University Emory University researchers have found that giving progesterone to trauma victims shortly following brain injury may reduce the risk of death and the degree of disability and also appears to be safe. The results of this study, the first clinical trial of its kind in the world, are available online in the October issue of the peer-reviewed journal, Annals of Emergency Medicine. Researchers say the next step will be to confirm their findings in a much larger group of traumatic brain injury patients.

A new study offers both hope and a practical treatment option for patients with giant cell arteritis

01 February 2007 - Emory University A new study offers both hope and a practical treatment option for patients with giant cell arteritis. Researchers from Emory University and the Mayo Clinic have found that by treating newly diagnosed GCA patients with just three days of a high-dose intravenous steroid, patients relapsed less in the following year and were able to significantly taper off usage of an oral steroid.

Dieldrin and DDT Metabolite found in Parkinson's diseased brains

01 February 2007 - Emory University Exposure to dieldrin and DDT, chlorinated insecticides, may increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society. The findings support epidemiological studies from the last two decades linking pesticide exposure to Parkinson's disease.

Dieldrin and DDT Metabolite found in Parkinson's diseased brains

01 February 2007 - Emory University Exposure to dieldrin and DDT, chlorinated insecticides, may increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society. The findings support epidemiological studies from the last two decades linking pesticide exposure to Parkinson's disease.

Researchers at Emory investigate a new treatment for Iraq War Veterans

01 February 2007 - Emory University Emory University researchers are embarking on a study they hope will enhance the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and help soldiers who are affected get better faster. PTSD is a serious condition that can become a chronic problem, with devastating life-altering effects on soldiers and their families.

First comprehensive study of the role an important tumor suppressor gene plays in cancer development

31 January 2007 - Emory University P53 is known as a major tumor suppressor that is frequently mutated in human cancer. In this study, researchers used novel proteomic techniques to identify the proteins secreted by cells specifically in response to p53. The findings suggest a newfound role for wt-p53 in the control of the tumor's ability to communicate with the normal stromal cells surrounding it. The results of the study, 'Proteomic identification of the wt-p53-regulated tumor cell secretome,' are found in the October 9 advance online print of Oncogene.

Researchers are testing a new method for treating post-traumatic stress disorder

31 January 2007 - Emory University Researchers are testing a new method for treating post-traumatic stress disorder they hope will help soldiers deal with troubling memories before depression, memory loss, drug abuse, and other health problems begin to occur.

Study will evaluate effect of Antioxidants & Fish Oil on age-related macular degeneration

31 January 2007 - Emory University Emory Eye Center along with other eye centers across the country will be a part of The National Institutes of Health nationwide study to see if a modified combination of vitamins, minerals, and fish oil can further slow the progression of vision loss from AMD, the leading cause of vision loss in the United States for people over age 60.

Chimpanzees, like humans, learn arbitrary behaviors through social observation

30 January 2007 - Emory University Chimpanzees duplicate modeled sequences of arbitrary actions by socially observing group members, demonstrating the consistency necessary to create and sustain different local traditions, according to a new study conducted at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University. This study disproves previous research that suggested nonhuman species lacked the capacity to observationally learn the significance of arbitrary actions, a characteristic considered fundamental to human culture.

Constraint-induced movement therapy is effective in rehabilitating stroke patients

30 January 2007 - Emory University Stroke patients who receive constraint-induced movement therapy, a rehabilitative technique that restrains the less-impaired arm, show significant improvement in arm and hand function, according to a seven-center national study led by Emory University researchers. The findings will appear in the Nov. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

First evidence to show elephants recognize themselves in the mirror

30 January 2007 - Emory University Elephants have joined a small, elite group of species, including humans, great apes and dolphins, that have the ability to recognize themselves in the mirror, according to a new finding by researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, and the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York. This newly found presence of mirror self-recognition in elephants, previously predicted due to their well-known social complexity, is thought to relate to empathetic tendencies and the ability to distinguish oneself from others, a characteristic that evolved independently in several branches of animals, including primates such as humans.

Newly identified biomarker detects and regulates spread of brain tumors

29 January 2007 - Emory University Researchers at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute have identified a novel biomarker for brain tumors and have uncovered a potential role the marker may play when the tumor spreads or comes back after treatment. The study, 'Attractin is elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with malignant astrocytoma and mediates glioma cell migration,' is published in the November issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

Emory Eye Center study finds laser treatment does not prevent vision loss

29 January 2007 - Emory University Low-intensity laser treatment, thought to be possibly beneficial in slowing or preventing the loss of vision from age-related macular degeneration, is ineffective in preventing complications of AMD or loss of vision.

Yerkes researchers pave the way for treatment of Retinal Degenerative Diseases

29 January 2007 - Emory University In an unprecedented animal research study, researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, and the Atlanta VA Hospital have used magnetic resonance imaging to produce images of the eye's retinal layers. The research, which will publish in an online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has the potential to revolutionize the way retinal degenerative diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are diagnosed and treated. Accelerating detection and treatment of such diseases ultimately could help prevent vision loss.

Researchers discover genes that distinguish human brain from non-human primate brains

13 October 2006 - Emory University A research team from the Salk Institute, the Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University and the University of California, Los Angeles, has identified genes in the cerebral cortex that differ in levels of activity between humans and nonhuman primates, including chimpanzees and rhesus monkeys.

Emory Eye Center offers new treatment for stroke, brain injury visual deficits

16 April 2006 - Emory University Today scientists and physicians at Emory Eye Center announced they are the first in the Georgia to offer patients a new computer-based technology that may improve portions of vision lost to stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury and other brain diseases. The treatment, NovaVision Vision Restoration Therapy, was developed by NovaVision, Inc. and cleared for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug administration.

Emory clinical trial explores options for treating acute deep venous thrombosis

15 March 2006 - Emory University Nearly 2 million Americans a year experience the painful swollen extremities associated with deep venous thrombosis. A thrombus, or blood clot, forms mainly in the deep veins of the lower leg or thigh and interferes with circulation. If the clot breaks loose, it can migrate to the lungs and block a pulmonary artery, resulting in a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

Many patients can reduce serious heart disease risk factors without medication

09 March 2006 - Emory University High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels (hyperlipidemia), and elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) are serious risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and physicians frequently prescribe a host of medications to treat these problems and reduce these risks. But research presented here today at the American College of Cardiology's 53rd Scientific Sessions concludes that many patients with classic cardiovascular disease risk factors can achieve risk reduction goals without medications within only three months of initiating therapeutic lifestyle changes.

Emory study of twins finds possible mechanism linking depression to heart disease

08 March 2006 - Emory University Depression is a recognized risk factor for coronary heart disease and, by studying pairs of twins, researchers from Emory and Yale believe they have found a mechanism that explains this link. In research announced today at the American College of Cardiology's 53rd Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, the scientists say they found a decrease in heart rate variability in those twins who were depressed as compared to their non-depressed siblings.

Emory offers new therapy for extremely high cholesterol

02 March 2006 - Emory University The Emory Heart Center, working in conjunction with the Plasmapheresis Center at Emory University Hospital, is the first site in Georgia to offer a new treatment, LDL-C apheresis, that can 'wash' so-called bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein or LDL) out of the plasma of individuals who are at high risk for atherosclerotic disease complications due to elevated cholesterol.

Nanoparticle probes are destined for major new role in medicine

13 February 2006 - Emory University The emerging miniaturized world known as nanomedicine integrates technology, biology and medicine using tools and